SK Shipping’s 318,000-ton ultra-large crude carrier, C.BRAVE, equipped with “OceanWise,” conducting a trial of optimal route navigation. (Image courtesy of HD Hyundai Marine Solutions)
SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — HD Hyundai Marine Solutions, the marine solutions arm of HD Hyundai, announced on Wednesday that its artificial intelligence-based route optimization system, OceanWise, will be deployed for the first time on vessels operated by leading South Korean shipping companies, SK Shipping and Hyundai Glovis.
OceanWise utilizes big data and AI algorithms to calculate optimal maritime routes from a vessel’s current position, significantly reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Positioned as a decarbonization and economic navigation solution, it aims to address growing industry demands for sustainable shipping practices.
The development and testing of OceanWise began in April 2024 under a partnership with HD Hyundai Oilbank. During its performance trials, conducted across 13 routes spanning over 106,000 kilometers, the solution demonstrated an average fuel-saving efficiency of 5.3%.
For a vessel consuming 10,000 tons of fuel annually, this translates to savings of approximately 350 million won ($290,000) in fuel costs.
To ensure reliability and precision, HD Hyundai Marine Solutions employed a pioneering “twin ship” validation method, which involved simultaneous operations of two identical vessels on the same route.
In subsequent tests, even the captains were swapped between the vessels, further enhancing the credibility of the trial results.
Looking ahead, HD Hyundai Marine Solutions plans to expand OceanWise’s application to vessels of all types and sizes and introduce it as a subscription-based service.
A company representative highlighted that the rigorous testing process played a pivotal role in gaining the trust of clients and shipping companies. “This supply agreement demonstrates the confidence stakeholders have in OceanWise. We are committed to making it the industry standard for decarbonization solutions in the maritime market.”
As the global shipping industry continues to grapple with stricter environmental regulations, OceanWise positions HD Hyundai as a leader in the race toward sustainable and cost-efficient maritime operations.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
